German Court Wants Fugitive Activist Paul Watson Extradited

07/25/2012

FRANKFURT, July 25, 2012 (AFP) - A German court Wednesday called for the extradition to Costa Rica of Paul Watson, the founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd, as he had skipped bail and apparently left the country.

The higher regional court in Frankfurt said Watson's lawyer had informed it that he had left Germany "for an unspecified destination" and that they had therefore decided to resume extradition proceedings against him.

Earlier this year, Costa Rica filed an extradition request on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation over shark finning in 2002.

Watson, a Canadian national who leads the Sea Shepherd organisation noted for its muscular attacks on Japanese whalers, is accused of "putting a ship's crew in danger".

The 61-year-old, whom Sea Shepherd members affectionately call "the captain" -- and who looks the part with a thick shock of white hair and beard, was arrested at Frankfurt airport in western Germany in May.

He was detained for a week before being released on bail but has not adhered to the terms of the bail since July 22, the court said.

"Since by fleeing, Watson has shown that he cannot justify the trust placed in him, the extradition process has been restarted," the court said.

In an interview with AFP after he was arrested, the activist vowed that his campaign would continue even if he were tried and jailed.

"They hope that by getting me out of the way, they'll shut down our operations. They won't," Watson said.

"This is not about me. It is about our oceans and the ever-escalating threat of diminishment of the diversity of life in our seas. It is about the sharks, the whales, the seals, the sea turtles and the fish," he said.

On a visit to Germany in May, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla said Watson would have a fair trial if extradited to the Central American country.

Captain Watson is a hero not a criminal-- His arrest is political and all charges against him should be dropped. Captain Watson was asked by the Costa Rica government to stop the shark poachers -- and Sea Shepherd complied and stopped the real criminals on the open seas those who de -fin sharks--No shark poachers have been hurt--this act is documented on video-- the whole world knows this arrest of Captain Watson is politically motivated-- by those who seek short term profits off the destruction of the planet's precocious oceans. The ocean destroyers and shark poachers need to go to jail not-- Captain Watson.

Japan paid a great amount of money as a gift to Costa Rica..not political, and what about the statue of limitations? Trumped-up charges as he has the video of the accusations against him. Who is saving the slaughter of our ocean's creatures? Remember, the ocean is our water supply for the whole Earth. Why aren't more countries backing and stopping the illegal and useless killing of our whales, sharks, and the blue fin fish of our oceans? My passion is to be one of the voices, please stop the illegal killing of the whales in restricted areas of the oceans. Peace, pause, and pray for them!

Way to go Captain Watson. I back you and am a member of Sea Shepherd online. I support you and your efforts to stop the killing of the whales, sharks, sea lions, and fish around the world. You do what you have to in order to get the word out. You are a hero to the oceans and the species that live within it. You are a hero to the so-called species that is the highest on the food chain, supposedly its the human species.

@LMAO and @Jackwagon: I would suggest to both of you that you spend some time reading up on Paul's life. He's been fighting to protect the oceans for his whole life, and has been arrested many times.

In the 1980's, his own government jailed him and beat him badly while he was locked up.

Paul has sacrificed everything in his life for his mission ... family, financial security, safety ... everything. Paul is as far away from being a coward as you can possibly imagine !!

Many years ago, a Japanese newspaper called him "Samurai"! A JAPANESE newspaper !!! Do you realize how significant that is? I can't even think of a term in this county that conveys anywhere near the honor and esteem that "Samurai" does in the Japanese culture.

The Taiwanese Shark Fin Mafia is known to have a $20,000 bounty on Watson, and is very influentual in the Costa Rican prison system. And while he sais he would die for the cause, wouldnt you think he would try to avoid having to do that?

Father Funk, before you call someone a Fat Racist Canadian Scumbag, which this man is not, get your facts right. He is the one trying so hard to save the whales and the seals not kill them you wingnut. You are just rambling, does that make you feel better calling Paul that, and you know nothing. I wish the Japanese would nail you with one of their harpoons you nut.

Keep up the good work Paul. Japan used the money from the tsunami to beef up their ships. They didn't put it into the country or to the family's who lost everything. What a great place to live were your own government doesn't care if your kids have a home GO SEA SHEPHERDS